MG Group unveils Columbus coach for aviation industry

This is a discussion on MG Group unveils Columbus coach for aviation industry within Commercial Vehicles, part of the BHP India category; MG Group has unveiled its first special application coach called the Columbus at Busworld India 2016. Columbus is built specifically ...

MG Group has unveiled its first special application coach called the Columbus at Busworld India 2016. Columbus is built specifically for the aviation industry. It is currently available only for the international markets. The manufacturer claims to be taking feedback at Busworld India, and will eventually launch the Columbus in the domestic market as well.

Columbus is a Monocoque Ultra-low Flat-floor Tarmac coach with a floor height of 290 mm (after kneeling). Passengers can enter the bus through five passenger doors (3 at LH side & 2 at RH side). With a length of 12 metres, the coach can accommodate 70 passengers (8 seated & 62 standees). It is equipped with technologies like Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and CAN bus systems that make it compliant with the Airport Handling Manual regulations.

The Columbus is currently available only with a diesel powertrain. The company plans to launch CNG and electric variants in the future.

MG Group has also launched a premium luxury coach named Mammoth for the Indian market. The Mammoth was unveiled last year at Busworld 2015 in Mumbai and is currently being produced for the International markets. The chassis has been sourced from MAN, Germany. MG claims to have focused on safety of passengers, as the Mammoth gets eight emergency exits, seat belts for every passenger and a patented 'EM – Secure' Rear Emergency Exit. It will be available in both seater and sleeper variants.

The MG Mammoth coaches will be available in four variants in the market, which will be priced between Rs. 60 lakh to Rs. 65 lakh, depending on the variant and technical specifications.

In its 20 years of operations, the MG Group claims to have produced 100,000 buses. It has two manufacturing plants in Zaheerabad, Telangana and Belgaum, Karnataka, with a cumulative annual capacity of 16,500 buses.

MG Group has unveiled its first special application coach called the Columbus at Busworld India 2016...

I thought I'd get a glimpse of another Made-in-India airport tarmac coach (the Ashok Leyland Avion would probably be the first), and lo and behold, I'm greeted by the Mammoth - stumped, I'd say. I'm sure I'm not the only one here to have expected the Columbus and greeted by the Mammoth